Ukraine's Airborne Forces break down current situation in Pokrovsk
Illustrative photo: Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline (Getty Images)
Today, Russian forces gained a foothold in the southern neighborhoods of Pokrovsk. The northern part of the city remains under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to an RBC-Ukraine article named "Russian pincer advances at Pokrovsk and grinding campaign in Zaporizhzhia: Сomprehensive frontline analysis."
According to Serhii Lefter, officer of the communication department of the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces, Russian units are attempting to push deeper into the city, often acting openly and without camouflage.
"On the very approaches to Pokrovsk, Russians can move right through open fields in broad daylight. They hardly hide. They don't even try to camouflage. It looks absurd when they attempt it. We eliminate them, and more keep coming," Lefter said.
According to him, the enemy managed to entrench itself in the southern districts of the city today. There is no clear line of contact yet; the railway serves as a rough boundary. The northern districts remain under Ukrainian control, while the southern ones lie in the gray zone and are partially under Russian control.
Ukrainian units continue to operate in the south, conducting raids and clearing blockages.
"In the southern outskirts, Russians have managed to hold their positions more firmly. We try not to let them settle in, but of course, it is harder there. There are firefights, we conduct raids, we try to set up ambushes," the officer added.
Since early December, according to Lefter, Ukrainian forces have eliminated about 60 Russian soldiers inside the city and wounded over 40—these are only the verified numbers; the real figures may be different.
Due to frequent fog and rain, both sides struggle to use drones, making reconnaissance difficult. While the fog lasts, Russians attempt to pull heavy armored vehicles into the city, but these are isolated cases, and Ukrainian forces destroy them. Lighter vehicles are moved faster and hidden.
As for artillery, the Russians have positioned it south of the city, in neighboring settlements, and periodically shell Ukrainian positions.
Despite the fighting, civilians continue to live in Pokrovsk. Back in August, local authorities estimated their number at around one thousand. Today, it is impossible to calculate how many remain.
"For obvious reasons, it is impossible to figure out how many civilians are still alive. The Russians enter the city and record videos showing how they supposedly 'care' about locals, but in reality, people in Pokrovsk are dying because of their weapons and their actions," Lefter said.
Battles for Pokrovsk
The Pokrovsk direction has long remained the epicenter of fighting in the Donetsk region.
Russian forces are trying to encircle the city from several sides, deploying additional troops and pulling in their operational reserve to capture the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad urban area.
According to Lefter, Russia has deployed the 76th Pskov Air Assault Division to reinforce its forces in Pokrovsk—this unit was previously recorded in the Kyiv region in 2022.
At the same time, according to Ukrainian Armed Forces colonel Vladyslav Seleznov, more than 140,000 Russian troops are concentrated in the Pokrovsk direction.
According to the morning update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 53 enemy assault actions in the direction of two dozen settlements around Pokrovsk.
